Summary
The horror genrecontains some of the most unique and terrifying stories in gaming history. From mysterious towns shrouded in fog to zombie apocalypses, it’s a dangerous world out there. So what happens when the protagonist is secretly even more dangerous than the horrors waiting for them outside?
Some horror protagonists are terrifying due to their evil nature. This can mean they are manipulative, have shaky morals, or work their way through a conversation through intimidation. Other characters are simply so physically strong that they render the monsters powerless in any interaction. These are ten horror game protagonists who are scarier than the monsters they have to face.
10James Sunderland
Silent Hill 2
At first glance, it might seem like all the worst things seem to be happening to James Sunderland, but the reality is a bit more sinister. Allthe monsters encountered in Silent Hill 2are actually manifestations of his own guilt.
Sunderland kills his wife, suffocating her in cold blood. This eventually lands him in the mess he finds himself trapped in as the guilt transforms into physical monsters he must face off against. Just goes to show that some of the worst monsters are walking among us.
9Joel
The Last Of Us
There is nothing that a father won’t do for his daughter. After failing to keep his original daughter safe, Joel is forced to live through the outbreak without her and loses his humanity. This downward spiral leads him to bloody his hands in the name of survival.
With the introduction of Ellie, Joel regains his humanity, but also his willingness to do anything to protect his own family. This includes dooming humanity for her sake in a case of doing the right thing for the wrong reason.
8Doom Guy
Doom (2016) And Doom Eternal
Doom Guy is one of the most terrifying entities in the entire galaxy. Playing through the original Doom games already lets you be a deadly and cool demon killer. However, Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal both go out of their way to acknowledge how much the demons and humans fear you.
When interacting with humans in Doom Eternal, Doom Guy acts as non-hostile, even handling them with care as he pulls a scientist’s access badge without taking it off the strap. Despite this, humanity is in shock and awe, frozen in place as you walk past.
7Lee Everett
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead by Telltale is one ofthe best zombie gamesthanks to having well-written characters like Lee and Clementine. However, while Lee is an outstanding guy, a fun way to play is to go with a scumbag Lee route.
This means making every mean choice, intimidating others, and even shooting first when trying to talk down survivors. This can leave some villains baffled at your lack of humanity and at times really makes them think if it’s better to have zombies or be stuck with you.
6Clementine
Like the first game, once the series lets you take full control of Clementine, you can start a scumbag Clementine run and be aggressive in every corner. Clementine is already hardened from surviving the apocalypse, but often, it is acknowledged that she has a determination to make the difficult choices.
Clementine often has darker moments than Lee. This includes abandoning another young girl to the walkers or choosing to watch as the villain, Carver, gets his face bashed in. Walkers may be mindless ghouls, but Clementine can be a calculating little monster if you let her be.
5Big Daddy
BioShock 2
The sequel to BioShock puts you in the shoes of one of the most terrifying enemies in Rapture, the Big Daddy. Armed with a drill and a rivet gun, it is your mission to find your little sister. Along the way, you encounter plenty of leftover survivors and revolutionaries from Rapture.
They all see you as a monster as they send out drones and enemies to stop you. you may prove them wrong if you want to. You can also prove them right by killing them.
4The Hunter
Bloodborne
All the abominations in Bloodborne take on grotesque shapes. Some crawl around the ground with mismatched body parts, and others are bloodthirsty canines. However, the biggest monster might just be the Hunter.
The Hunter is the only one that can not only combat the beasts but will do so over and over again to get stronger. They don’t use an estus flask but recuperate by drinking blood. In the end, the Hunter will ascend into a Great One making them the ultimate being.
3Ethan Winters
Resident Evil 7 And 8
Resident Evil 7 Introducesa new kind of bioweapon. This is the Mold. Thrown into the chaos is Ethan Winters, who might seem like your average everyday human. Something is off about him though.
Ethan can quickly regenerate damage and even when his hand is brutally chopped off, he can put it back on as if nothing happened. Turns out Ethan was dead all along and the person you were playing as is a Mold copy of him. His very existence is terrifying, since not many bioweapons in the Resident Evil franchise can blend in so well with human civilization.
2The Protagonist
The Fallout Series
The Fallout series is a mix of sci-fi with elements of horror such as giant insects, terrifying ghouls, and Mutant abominations that want you dead. Luckily, the protagonist in these games can be quite terrifying as well.
When not tied down to being a loving father on the search for his son, the protagonist can be one of the most ruthless beings in the wasteland. Learning intimidation tactics can open up new lines of dialogue that can force NPC to bow down before you. You can even learn cannibalism and get stronger with each character you kill and eat.
1Luigi
Luigi’s Mansion
Luigi might not seem like the most terrifying Protagonist in a horror game — he is often scared of everything himself. However, what lies beneath those friendly blue eyes? Luigi’s Mansion holds the answers to that.
Once Luigi turns on his flashlight and starts sucking up all the ghosts, which characters are running away screaming? Which ones are terrified and will fight till their undying last breaths just to avoid being shoved into a painting? It just goes to show you don’t have to look scary to be scary.
